Looking for a picnic with a difference? Don’t do it yourself, pick up a sumptuous array of foodstuffs from these ideal picnicking areas in the UK. Whether you’re out for a family feast or a romantic lunch for two, there is something for everyone. Although you probably aren’t planning on eating alfresco during winter, it’s something to look forward to on those long, summer weekends.
The Lizard Pastry Shop, Cornwall
Cornwall is renowned for its pastry. Ann Muller, otherwise known as the Queen of Pastry, doesn’t let visitors and locals down with her melt-in-the-mouth pasties. Her small shop in Lizard village (the UK’s most southerly point) specialises in vegetable, cheese, and Cornish pasties, as well as organic drinks. She renovated her family’s garage into a pastry palace, and so Ann’s able to crimp her pies straight from her kitchen – that’s proper home cooking in action. Grab a hot pasty and relax on the cliff tops with this tasty treat.
The Yellow Door Deli, Northern Ireland
For travelling foodies, the Yellow Door Deli is an artisan bakery, chocka full of seasonal dishes. From gourmet smoked salmon salad to tradition Irish soda bread, you can wash it down with a bottle of chilled white wine in Lough Neagh’s nature reserve. There are picnic tables and temporary BBQs a-plenty, so if you’d prefer a do-it-yourself picnic that makes for great days out for families, you can nosh-down to your heart’s content.
Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, Melton Mowbray
Hand-raising pies since 1851, this shop has certainly stood the test of time. Gather together hot gooseberry chutney, a pork pie, local stilton, and decadent fruit cake for a picnic that’s a complete taste sensation. These pies are so good that they’re sold nationally, but the pastry geniuses still stay true to their roots with the original shop ready for business. From here you can walk to Melton Country Park and enjoy your spoils.
Heart Buchanan, Glasgow
Glasgow’s Botanical Gardens are a gorgeous backdrop for any picnic. Heart Buchanan specialises in making up picnic boxes to share from £15, so you can enjoy the Victorian greenhouses and lovely plants with a full stomach. You can expect charcuterie and cheeses, as well as tarts and salads. To satisfy your sweet tooth, Heart Buchanan produces delicious cakes and boast, according to the chefs, the best carrot cake in the world. The fairy cakes are particularly popular and fly off the shelves, so get there quickly before they’re all gone.
Van Doesburg’s, Shropshire
Church Stretton is a mecca for walkers of all ages. The beautiful hills and valleys are popular for picnicking in the summer and the local deli, Van Doesburg’s, has a range of lunchtime treats, including amazing sandwiches, up-class pizza, flapjacks, and cakes, all made in-house. When you return, you’ll probably need a refreshing sip of their Herefordshire apple juice to wash your picnic down, or a few drinks in Church Stretton’s wine bar.
Our guest blogger today is Zoe, a Brit-based travel blogger
